What I love about your content, Hannah, is that you do seem to unashamedly embrace your “you-ness”. Creators like you always make me feel less alone in both my individuality and my basic-ness? I’m pretty proud of both and I think it’s an interesting evolution to turn the lens back on oneself to ask the question “who am I?” amidst the noise of social media!
I read Kyle Chayka's book earlier this year and even though I understand his argument, I also can't help but feel "some type of way" about it because a lot of the examples (the listicles, the recommendation) are also big part of girl culture on the internet. Do the product recommendations bother me? Yes, they do. Especially because so much of it is around buying - clothes, skincare, makeup, etc. Do I think that everyone should / can read the New Yorker on the regular (where Chayka writes), no I do not.
I do buy his argument in favor of resisting algorithmic pressure. But I think that a lot of the content that he criticizes is actually an attempt to do just that: define a personal perspective, uncover something special that is not already part of the mainstream.
I was at a writing workshop not too long ago and sheepishly shared that I write a Substack about books and wondered if people actually trust my recommendations because ... what the fuck do I know?! I am just a woman on the internet who likes to read... and I was SHOCKED how many people had a STRONG reaction against mainstream publications' recommendations... so many people said they don't read professional critics because the politics involved in deciding which books to profile, what to say about them, etc.
I do feel the pressure of the algorithm but I also feel a strong self of self when I create and share on the internet.
I felt things when reading this!! I love thinking of the internet as a sort of playground to get curious and play in. Thanks for putting these thoughts into words <3
I’m generally a fan of Kyle’s work, but that piece is savage! Good curation - the light, the shade, the tone - is not easy to do. The idea that rec culture by default is banal and narcissistic is bizarre!
this sent me in a spiral of thought and it reminded me of a gilmore girls quote, how egotistical am I? rory asked lorelai. I'd do the same so very egotistical. We're narcissistic creatures by default and we only now have the means to realise just how much so. The good news is that we're all in this together.
I really appreciate all the thought put into this, and it's something I tend to think about a lot when I write! I tend to think 'Who the hell do I think I am?' and so reading that narcissistic line had me feeling called out! (lol). And then other times I think, who cares? I'm writing because I love it and nobody is taking me so seriously to think it's narcissism.
What I love about your content, Hannah, is that you do seem to unashamedly embrace your “you-ness”. Creators like you always make me feel less alone in both my individuality and my basic-ness? I’m pretty proud of both and I think it’s an interesting evolution to turn the lens back on oneself to ask the question “who am I?” amidst the noise of social media!
thank you so much India ahh this comment is so lovely !! let's start an individual AND basic club hehe xx
I’m so in!!!
I read Kyle Chayka's book earlier this year and even though I understand his argument, I also can't help but feel "some type of way" about it because a lot of the examples (the listicles, the recommendation) are also big part of girl culture on the internet. Do the product recommendations bother me? Yes, they do. Especially because so much of it is around buying - clothes, skincare, makeup, etc. Do I think that everyone should / can read the New Yorker on the regular (where Chayka writes), no I do not.
I do buy his argument in favor of resisting algorithmic pressure. But I think that a lot of the content that he criticizes is actually an attempt to do just that: define a personal perspective, uncover something special that is not already part of the mainstream.
I was at a writing workshop not too long ago and sheepishly shared that I write a Substack about books and wondered if people actually trust my recommendations because ... what the fuck do I know?! I am just a woman on the internet who likes to read... and I was SHOCKED how many people had a STRONG reaction against mainstream publications' recommendations... so many people said they don't read professional critics because the politics involved in deciding which books to profile, what to say about them, etc.
I do feel the pressure of the algorithm but I also feel a strong self of self when I create and share on the internet.
that point about things that women love is sooo good. i've been thinking about it a lot recently as well.
I felt things when reading this!! I love thinking of the internet as a sort of playground to get curious and play in. Thanks for putting these thoughts into words <3
This truly made me rethink my internet consumption, so thank you for that.
I’m generally a fan of Kyle’s work, but that piece is savage! Good curation - the light, the shade, the tone - is not easy to do. The idea that rec culture by default is banal and narcissistic is bizarre!
I know right? I feel like good curation is like an art form in itself
This is sooooo good. Thank you for writing and thanks for the shoutout Hannah 🤍
ahhh thank you for reading!!! your piece has been bouncing around my brain for weeks at this point haha
this sent me in a spiral of thought and it reminded me of a gilmore girls quote, how egotistical am I? rory asked lorelai. I'd do the same so very egotistical. We're narcissistic creatures by default and we only now have the means to realise just how much so. The good news is that we're all in this together.
we truly are all in this together <3
I really appreciate all the thought put into this, and it's something I tend to think about a lot when I write! I tend to think 'Who the hell do I think I am?' and so reading that narcissistic line had me feeling called out! (lol). And then other times I think, who cares? I'm writing because I love it and nobody is taking me so seriously to think it's narcissism.
YES to this. who cares !! we have things to say !! and this is a great thing !!
That put things in perspective, thank you Hannah. I did my master’s thesis on how srereotyped TikTok’s content is, so that is spot on to me !
Curiosity is fun and thank you for reminding me of that!
"If Content answers questions, Art asks them." GENIUS. This made my lunch break much more curiously beautiful, thank you Hannah x